Grave desecrated, skull missing
NHLANGANO – The community of Hlushwana was left in shock when they found the grave of a man desecrated, and his skull missing.
The grave was said to be belonging to a man identified as Wozani Mngometulu.
The incident happened at Hlushwana, which is located at Siphambanweni towards Lavumisa, under Esihlengeni Chiefdom, in the Shiselweni Region. Mngometulu was a mineworker and he died 15 years ago.
According to community members, since the discovery a week ago, they have been worried about the safety of their relatives’ graves.
They shared that they did not know the motive behind the defilement of the grave. In an interview with Mngometulu’s widow, Busisiwe, she said she received information from other relatives, who had gone to clear their family graves at the graveyard.
Discovered
She said they then went to the graveyard with other family members and discovered that indeed the tomb had been dug out. She said the people who dug the tomb only dug on the side where the head was positioned.
“The coffin had a glass, but they broke it and removed the skull,” she said.
The widow explained that they went to report the matter at Lavumisa Police Station. The police are said to have gone to the scene, where the rest of the remains were exhumed for investigations.
According to the widow, the remains of her husband were taken to a mortuary, where it was kept for two days. She said they had to buy another casket and bury her husband’s remains all over again, without the skull.
The widow said she had gone to see a priest after the incident and they prayed that whosoever was responsible for the nefarious deed be caught and brought to justice.
The community further shared that they were worried that even after they reported to the chiefdom’s authorities, they did not get a response from that end.
They said they were expecting the local authorities to condemn the incident and further send community police to patrol the affected area.
When reached for comment, 4omintaba Chiefdom Indvuna Themba Myeni, said they were aware of the incident because it happened in a chiefdom under Chief Gasa waNgwane. He said they were not quiet but were waiting for the police to conclude their investigations, before they could condemn the act.
“Though the overseers of Esihlengeni Royal Kraal did not report to the main royal kraal officially, we are aware of the incident. After the police are done with their work, we will respond appropriately,” he said.
Inquiry
Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Nosipho Mnguni said police were aware of the incident and had opened an inquiry file.
Meanwhile, National Chairman of the Witch Doctors Association, Makhanya Makhanya, said the family needed to search for answers.
He said such an incident was not supposed to happen, because the reason a dead person’s remains were buried was that they were accorded respect. He stated that the deceased was not going to rest, hence they were supposed to go to traditionalists to find out who the perpetrators were.
Makhanya was of the view that the missing body part could even be used against the family to destroy them, hence the reason they needed to find solutions and stop whatever would be done with the stolen body part.